Jump to content

Menu

Art Techniques


Recommended Posts

I thought it would be nice if we share some art techniques & resources here. I am looking for good books on helping kids learn about art and an appreciation for it. If anyone knows some good titles, or resources please share.

__________________________________________________________________

 

 

Now take a look at a master of the brush stroke

...John Singer Sargent.

 

 

sargeant.jpg

 

Sargent was born in Florence, Italy in 1856. His American parents were there for his mother's health. He was encouraged early to develop his artistic abilities, and became a master "plein air painter" taking his watercolors everywhere he traveled.

 

This painting is comprised mostly of brush strokes. Sargeant really liked to "draw" with his brush. There are some wash areas (the mountains in the distance, the soft corner of sky, the whitewashed walls, some of the greenery. But look at the linear marks! In the ground in front of the wall, on the pottery, the leaves in the trees and bushes. Especially notice the scratchy dry brush area in the dark tops of the pine trees.

 

 

http://www.fountains...-brushwork.html

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi,

 

Thanks for the feedback,

 

I totally forgot about Usborne's!

 

It's not just for my kids, but others too, so all ages from 3+.

 

Sorry I am not a Christian, am a Muslim, but I will check up on Sister Wendy, as there's some great inspiring art! :001_smile:

 

 

tumblr_mdtgol1AzI1rl60fgo1_500.jpg

 

N. C. Wyeth

 

 

 

NC%20Wyeth-358583.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We concentrated more on making art than on appreciating art. I taught mine to draw using Draw Squad. It is full of rarayoucandoit but if you ignore that, the drawing instruction is sound and it appealed to my young boys, who wanted to be able to draw imaginary things out of their heads like castles and airplanes. Most drawing books teach how to draw something from real life that is sitting in front of you, like a plate of fruit. Mine learned that sort of drawing when they did natural history. We like the prisma colour coloured pencils. My husband and I got the Sister Wendy art appreciation videos out of the library and watched them but for some reason, I wouldn't have been comfortable watching them with my children, I think, so you might want to pre-watch. (For some reason Sister Wendy's comments about the artwork embarrassed me, even though nudity is totally a non-issue in our tiny house. I can't put my finger on why.) I liked The Annotated Mona Lisa book better than the Sister Wendy one we have. I have a nice adult drawing book that I will list the name of when I have a chance. Our library has a lovely batch of painting books. Those are expensive, so the library is a good place to look for these.

 

I love the paintings you posted!

 

Nan

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm looking at the Annotated Mona Lisa for art history. I'm hoping she may be able to take the Art History AP test in high school, so we may use this along with Barron's Art History AP prep book for 9th grade. Other resources I''m considering (don't have any of them yet):

Masterpiece Cards

Art of the Western World http://www.learner.o...es/series1.html (free video series college level)

Art Through Time: a global view http://www.learner.o.../series211.html (another free video series college level)

A World of Art http://www.learner.o...s/series64.html (ditto)

 

For actual creation of art, we've used a general art class at a co-op (with professional art teacher) for 2 years, looking at a different artist each two weeks and creating art in that style. This year, we've moved on to specific drawing instruction with a teacher. Since we finished earth science early, this spring I'm having my daughter work on an art course based on anatomy at www.alienthink.com (first 19 lessons free---we're trying those to see if we want to invest in the entire course) as her science in addition to the drawing classes (I want to let her get a bit farther ahead in math before tackling physical science for 8th). She'll also be working with her art teacher on set creation for the local community theater production of South Pacific (it helps that her dad has a role in the production). We're doing a Movies as Lit class this year (another form of visual arts) that I hope will help with noting visual elements for art history as well as lit analysis in written work.

 

For 8th grade, we're hoping to continue the technique classes, as well as some introductory art history (museum visits, art related to history, maybe one of the free online video courses above).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For the young student. Art History order of how we used them:

 

The Art Book for Children by Phaidon:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-art-book-for-children-phaidon-press-editors/1103913484?ean=9780714845302

 

The Art Book for Children 2 by Phaidon:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Art-Book-Children-Two/dp/0714847062/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361498734&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Art+Book+for+CHildren

 

Usborne Children's Book of Art

http://www.amazon.com/Usborne-Childrens-Book-Art-Internet/dp/0794512232/ref=pd_sim_b_2

 

The Usborne Book of Famous Paintings:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Usborne-Book-Famous-Paintings/dp/0794525423/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361498859&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Usborne+Book+of+Famous+painting

 

Cave Paintings to Picasso by Henry Sayre

http://www.amazon.com/Cave-Paintings-Picasso-Inside-Masterpieces/dp/B000IJ7Q5K/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1361498950&sr=1-1&keywords=Cave+Paintings+to+picasso

 

For older students:

 

Masterpiece Cards:

http://www.themasterpiececards.com

 

Sister Wendy's 1000 Masterpieces

http://www.amazon.com/Sister-Wendys-Masterpieces-Wendy-Beckett/dp/0751307173/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1361499043&sr=1-1&keywords=Sister+Wendy%27s+1000+masterpieces

 

The Art Book by Phaidon:

http://www.amazon.com/Art-Book-New-Editors-Phaidon/dp/0714864676/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1361499117&sr=1-1&keywords=THe+art+book

 

The Story of Art by E.H. Gombrich

http://www.amazon.com/Story-Art-E-H-Gombrich/dp/0714832472/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1361499169&sr=1-1&keywords=the+story+of+art+gombrich

 

American Painting by Donald Goddard

http://www.amazon.com/American-Painting-Donald-Goddard/dp/0883639971/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1361499335&sr=1-1&keywords=American+Painting+Donald+Goddard

 

The Great Courses: How to Look at and Understand Great Art

http://www.thegreatcourses.com/tgc/courses/course_detail.aspx?cid=7640

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For older students:

 

Masterpiece Cards:

http://www.themasterpiececards.com

 

Sister Wendy's 1000 Masterpieces

http://www.amazon.co...00 masterpieces

 

The Art Book by Phaidon:

http://www.amazon.co...ds=THe art book

 

The Story of Art by E.H. Gombrich

http://www.amazon.co...of art gombrich

 

American Painting by Donald Goddard

http://www.amazon.co... Donald Goddard

 

The Great Courses: How to Look at and Understand Great Art

http://www.thegreatc...l.aspx?cid=7640

 

How did you like the Masterpiece Cards? How did you use them? How did you like the GC dvds? As I posted, I'm considering using these and would love a review.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks everyone for the responses. Glad to know lots of us like art :)

 

I don't think I will be using Sister Wendy art appreciation videos, since as one of you said it has nudity - this would definitely be an issue with us! I do like still life and like to get more ideas on how to prepare resources for still life from around the home.

 

I got some lovely books from the library, and bought a couple of more. We're using 'Draw Write Now' and hope to paint some landscape. There's one painting I really like, but it uses masking fluid. It's rather expensive.

 

I wonder what painters used before this?

 

I prefer to paint naturally anyway without too many aids like masking fluid, so if anyone has tips what we can do or use in painting instead of masking fluid, I'll appreciate it - It's those small fine lines & areas which need light reflected on them which I may find difficult to master.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

I got some lovely books from the library, and bought a couple of more. We're using 'Draw Write Now' and hope to paint some landscape. There's one painting I really like, but it uses masking fluid. It's rather expensive.

 

I wonder what painters used before this?

 

 

For masking fluid use "copydex" in the UK. It is wood glue I think. We bought it at B&Q. Cheap.

 

When they were little we did Child Sized Masterpieces. They enjoyed it but they really preferred playing with the postcards. They ended up in a competition to see who knew the most about their cards -- artist name and picture name.

 

We loved draw write now. Easy to work in with other curriculum.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

These are some of the resources we've used:

 

Stokstad's Art History - older versions are inexpensive. Color pictures, readable text.

 

Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain - we used the 3rd edition, helped ds break through some drawing obstacles this year.

 

Barb's Harmony Fine Arts - we've used her products a couple of times, always great. She has a few freebies on site too.

 

websites:

 

DonnaYoung.org -yes, the form lady. She has a nice section on art, including units on perspective and color theory

 

Drawspace.com - free and paid lessons, from beginner to advanced.

 

Alienthink,.com - drawing figure lessons. First 19 are free (30 minute lessons), many other paid lessons. Ds and I did the first one a few weeks ago. It was great at drawing a proportional figure. If you have a dc that has an interest in drawing or painting figures, video game production, or figure animation, these courses are worth looking into. He has beginner through advanced classes that are not outrageously expensive.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

These are some of the resources we've used....

 

Thank for the great links!

 

I really liked the one with the sparrow on a tea cup, but the tutorial is $200 (- way out of my budget!)

 

Some of the links have very nice ideas. I think we'll try this tutorial you posted, soon:

 

http://www.drawspace.com/lessons/y01/golden-rosebud

 

Thanks again.

 

Best Wishes :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Childsized Masterpieces is a program for young children that has been around for quite awhile. It was old when I bought it 10 years ago. Developed for Montessori schools I think. There were several levels which developed different skills. One level had 6 to 8 still life paintings by famous artists which were somewhat similar. The child matched these paintings with extra set. There was another where they picked out which were by the same artist usind Degas ballerinas I think.

 

The program encouraged using postcards from art museums your child had visited. We collected quite a few and included upper levels which was when the memory competition started at my house. I think the basic program came with roughly 100 postcards -- all with a duplicate which was probably not needed except for matching. IMO

 

Hope this gives you some ideas.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

How inspiring! This program seems like an interesting idea.

 

BTW, how do you use copydex as a masking fluid - do you have to dilute it in water first? I am now wondering whether PVA glue would work the same? Worth experimenting! :)

 

I found these cards online today, but not found any in UK yet:

 

ARTIST-Cards-OKEEFE-Teacher-Montessori-Preschool-NEW.jpg

 

ARTIST-Cards-VAN-GOGH-Teacher-Montessori-Preschool-NEW.jpg

 

 

Thanks for the great tips!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Dd does not dilute. She has a cheap paintbrush that she uses. She takes classes and copydec is what she recommonded. As long as it rubs off easily and doesn't damage the paper it seems like it would be fine. Pretty sure dd spent £3 or so for her copydex a couple years ago.

 

The cards we had were museum postcards. Rainbow resources usually has some inexpensive ones usually by artist name. 6 by Monet etc. They might work better just because of standars size for the entire collection. I do think what you found would work.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wow! Now you've really got me interested and I am seriously thinking of getting that Usborne Art colouring book. That's exactly the kind of thing I am looking for. Something which explains how master pieces were painted. My dd loves the horse picture in the gallery. I like some of these artist's paintings, (see below).

 

1029468.jpg

 

George Stubbs

 

1029255.jpg

Vincent Van Gogh

 

 

1029511.jpg

 

Renoir

 

 

 

portrait-of-the-artists-daughter-elizabeth.jpg?w=500

 

Theo Van Rysselberghe

 

 

Thanks for the great feedback, I will be trying the copydex - once I get it! If you or anyone has more books & resources to share, please post them here - they'll come in great use! :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Finally found another one you would like. It is a book called Discovering Great Artists .......by Maryann Kohl. That should be enough to look at amazon (diffently in US amazon). Sorry I can't link. I don't think I can on my fire.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I just read Page by Paige. It was fun. It is a graphic novel about a teenage girl who turns herself into an artist. It had contained some advice rather like the advice in The Artist's Way (which changed some things about the way I look at the world, actually lol). Anyway, it was a fun way to spend half an hour. (probaby not for conservative Christians or for younger-than-teens)

 

I also would like to recommend the boogie board. It isn't the sort of thing I would buy for myself but my sister gave me one for Christmas and we've all been having fun doodling with it.

 

Don't forget about youtube videos. There are tons and tons of youtube videos to tell you how to paint or make other sorts of art. It is really helpful to watch somebody rather than just read about it. It also can be inspiring. Or discouraging lol.

 

Nan

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Thank you Maggie, I will check out those links and the book.

 

Nan, I agree there are loads of nice videos on youtube but not many discuss composition or style. I did like the Henri Rousseau's Jungle thematic art here:

 

 

Anyway just for fun, we saw this today and it made us realise how creative animals are (and also able to run an art studio)!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAvJElLFAEQ

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...